Encoding from AVI to MPEG 2

[avz10]

I need some advice please. I finally worked out how to create a DVD from my Avi files, using Motion DV from Panasonic for capturing and editing, encoding using TMPGEnc 2,5, authoring using GUI for dvd author and writing using DVD Shrink. This creates quite a good DVD.
My problem now is that the trial version for TMPGEnc has expired and it appears as if I need to buy TMPGEnc Plus 2.5. Is this correct and is the best price $37, or is there a way to circumvent this?
Thanks!

[Soltaris]

Both Tmpgenc Plus and Tmpgenc DVD Author are commercial applications. Free substitutes won't necessarily be as nice but they can still be very useful. You can use VirtualDub or Windows Movie Maker to edit your video. You can use QuEnc to encode your video to MPEG-2. You can use ffmpegGUI to encode your audio to AC3. You can use FitCD as a bitrate calculator (so you don't loose quality compressing with DVD Shrink later).

I haven't seen any free menuing software though. But afterwords you can use burnatonce as a free software to burn a DVD-Video disc.

[guns1inger]

He is already using free authoring software - GUI for DVD Author.

HCEnc is another good quality free encoder, although it requires an avisynth script to load the avi file. A simple script will suffice.

[Soltaris]

Thanks guns1inger

Now that I think of it I remember others mentioning that app. I'll have to give it a try sometime.

[avz10]

Thanks.

I will try the HCEnc encoder, but how does the script work? Do I need to download the avisynth script on my computer and then the HCEnc encoder or what?? I’m a bit of a novice!!

Second question: Is the HCEnc straightforward to use or is there a step by step guide available?

Last question: Or should I rather pay the $37- in South Africa it is still a lot of money!

[guns1inger]

Download it and have a look. I can't tell you what you will find easy or hard. The avisynth script might be as simple as

AviSource("full path to file")

There is a long post dedicated to HCenc over at Doom9 that is worth a look.